The Marvelettes “Little Girls Grow Up” (1965, Unreleased. From Cellarful of Motown Volume 3, 2007) It shouldn’t be surprising, as we pull into the heart of Gemini Roll Call there’s a bit of twin factor in the stories I’m telling. Another influential Gladys Gemini has been with me for a long long time. She’s Gladys…
Author: Laurence Jones
Time Capsule or actual human being, who knows. Laurence Jones has been sifting through ephemera of the past seemingly forever, spinning vinyl for you, taking film photography and entertaining you with instagram posts of the decrepit old cars they own. You can find previous writing by them at djlarsupreme.com and medium.com
Gladys Knight & The Pips “I’ll Be Here (When You Get Home)” (From the LP All I Need Is Time, 1973)
Gladys Knight & The Pips “I’ll Be Here (When You Get Home)” (From the LP All I Need Is Time, 1973) This particular Gemini Roll Call needs probably very little introduction. Since her debut on The Ted Mack Amateur Hour some 63 years ago, Gladys Knight has been dazzling audiences with her rich and full…
Little Miss Cornshucks “So Long (1961 Version)” (From the LP The Loneliest Girl In Town, 1961)
Little Miss Cornshucks “So Long (1961 Version)” (From the LP The Loneliest Girl In Town, 1961) Gemini Roll Call heralds today one of the most forgotten influences in the transition years from Blues to Soul that happened between the 1940s and the 1960s. Born 92 years ago today, the persona Mildred Cummings crafted as Little Miss…
Irma Thomas “Live Again” (1965, unreleased. From “Time Is On My Side: The Best of Irma Thomas, 1992)
Irma Thomas “Live Again” (1965, unreleased. From “Time Is On My Side: The Best of Irma Thomas, 1992) Gemini Roll Call goes behind the glass this Monday Morning and honors a twin that was one of the most prolific wordsmiths of the 1960s. In his partnership with Burt Bacharach, Hal David turned out hundreds of…
Patti Labelle And The Bluebelles “All Or Nothing” (Atlantic 2311, Pop #68, 1965)
Patti Labelle And The Bluebelles “All Or Nothing” (Atlantic 2311, Pop #68, 1965) Gemini Roll Call continues today with one of the most versatile singers from the sign of the twins. For 55 years, Patti LaBelle has morphed from mere Girl Group lead singer to legend. Not only a singer, she’s an author, advocate and…
Anna King “Sally” (End 1126-B, 1965)
Anna King “Sally” (End 1126-B, 1965) Dusty bins are packed with 45rpm singles where the B-side is far superior than the A side that was played for radio audiences. And Anna King’s last single effort is one of those perplexing affairs. Of course, given the time, the answer record A-side “Mama’s Got A Bag Of…
Blinky “I Wouldn’t Change The Man He Is” (Motown 1134, 1968)
Blinky “I Wouldn’t Change The Man He Is” (Motown 1134, 1968) Perhaps the most overlooked, poorly treated woman in Motown’s later golden years was Sondra “Blinky” Williams Oakland born, L.A. raised and recording almost exclusively in gospel settings through 1966, Blinky brought a visceral fire to most every recording she laid down for the Motor…
Lorraine Ellison “Don’t Let It Go To Your Head” (Mercury 72472-B, 1965)
Lorraine Ellison “Don’t Let It Go To Your Head” (Mercury 72472-B, 1965) One of the more forgotten, if not prolific voices from the sweeter side of soul is Lorraine Ellison. Starting in Gospel as many do, she moved to R&B in 1964, and was picked up by Mercury. As a singer-songwriter, although she had some…
Betty Turner “Stand By And Cry” (Liberty 55861-B, 1966)
Betty Turner “Stand By And Cry” (Liberty 55861-B, 1966) Given the top flight production values all of her singles received, one would think that Betty Turner had a really big chance of breaking through to become an accomplished recording start of the West Coast recording scene. Of course, it’s another story of not exactly turning…
Mel Carter “When A Boy Falls In Love” (Derby 1003, R&B#30 Pop #44, 1963)
Mel Carter “When A Boy Falls In Love” (Derby 1003, R&B#30 Pop #44, 1963) The dewy eyed freshness of this Sam Cooke composition perhaps may have not been what Sam himself was after in the middle of 1963. Pushing towards more aggressive tones in his music as he pushed, unknowingly, towards the end of his…
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